Things are slightly looking up for U.S. orange production.
In its latest production forecast, USDA reported a less than one percent increase nationwide. Most of that was due to a big boost in California’s valencia crop, but that is not the case in Florida. The National Ag Statistics Service says month over month production dropped seven percent.
“A lot of it’s due to the drop. It went up five percentage points to 51% from the previous month, and also it took two more pieces of fruit to fill a 90 pound box of oranges.”
The Ag Statistics Service notes this is the largest percentage decline in Florida valencia oranges in a non-hurricane year. The state was already on track to have the smallest citrus crop since WWII.
Related:
Florida’s Citrus Forecast Worsens
Impact of Florida’s Freeze on its Citrus Crop
Deep freeze devastates Texas citrus